Kenya gives up bid for 2020 Olympic Games

Kenya will not be bidding to host the 2020 Olympics in spite of the gesture from International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacque Rogge, who encourages African states to bid for the Games.

Sports Minister Helen Sambili said on Thursday there are more concerns for the country than bidding for the lucrative Olympics, which demands billions of Shillings to host besides the security challenge that comes with it.

"Our main focus is first to put in the structures and facilities that can help our youth to develop. We need to build new stadium, make the facilities available before thinking of such a big task," she said.

IOC President Jacque Rogge on arrival in Kenya on Wednesday said he hoped an African city will come out to offer its candidature to host the Games.

"I would hope that one will come out as soon as possible. But obviously this will depend on the city being successful to host the 2020 Games," said Rogge.

The Olympic boss said that it would take a willingness of a city and the country to offer its candidature.

Hosting an Olympic is an expensive venture that requires billions of shillings in investment, an expense generally considered untenable for African cities.

South Africa's Cape Town offered its candidature to host the 2004 Olympic Games but finished a distant third in the bidding process in 1997.


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